The Tooth About Teeth Grinding

Headaches in Brandon are a dime a dozen. We all know the frustration of having your day interrupted by throbbing, shooting pains in the head. If you suffer from frequent headaches that never seem to go away, Dr. Walker and Dr. Raynal would like you to know about bruxism, or teeth grinding. At Walker and Raynal, DMD, we love spreading the news about all things dental health, so here is some headache information that just might change your life.

Bruxism and Headaches

You may not be aware of it, but everyone clenches and grinds their teeth at some point and to some degree. It’s a natural reaction to stress. During the day, you might catch yourself doing it and make a conscious effort to stop, but during the night, you are unaware of it and will naturally grind much harder. Unfortunately, some people in Brandon have such problems with bruxism that they may experience:

According to Dr. Noshir Mehta, chairman of general dentistry at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and director of its Craniofacial Pain Center, the upper and lower teeth come into contact for as much as 40 minutes of each hour. The force exerted on some teeth, such as the first molars, can be about 250 lbs, as opposed to the 20-40 lbs involved in regular daily chewing.

If you grind your teeth and have frequent headaches, don’t panic. Bruxism is easily treatable with custom-fit night guards that Dr. Walker and Dr. Raynal will personally fit for your teeth. To find out more about how we can make your headaches disappear, call us at Walker and Raynal, DMD today.

Dr. Eric Raynal and Dr. David Walker have been dentists in Brandon, FL for the past two decades, taking over Dr. Walker's father's Brandon Dentist office. They are committed to continuing dental education and serving their Brandon dental patients with general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry and restorative dentistry services.